How Humans Could Lose Power Without an AI Takeover (with David Duvenaud)
Published: December 23, 2025
Duration: 1:18:34
David Duvenaud is an associate professor of computer science and statistics at the University of Toronto. He joins the podcast to discuss gradual disempowerment in a post-AGI world. We ask how humans could lose economic and political leverage without a sudden takeover, including how property rights could erode. Duvenaud describes how growth incentives shape culture, why aligning AI to humanity may become unpopular, and what better forecasting and governance might require.
LINKS:
David Duvenaud academic homepageGradual DisempowermentThe Post-AGI WorkshopPost-AGI Studies DiscordCHAPTERS:
(00:00) Episode Preview
(01:05) Introducing gradual disempowerment
(06:06) Obsolete labor...